If any player had the power to shake up the entire NBA offseason, it was Giannis Antetokounmpo. But according to the latest reporting, rival teams are no longer waiting on that domino to fall.
On Get Up, Brian Windhorst said teams have “come to terms with the realization” that Giannis won’t request a trade and the Milwaukee Bucks have no intention of moving their franchise star.
“He’s not going to ask for a trade. At least not right now,” Windhorst said. “Teams around the league have come to terms with that.”
While Windhorst left the door open for things to shift later in the offseason, the message for now is clear: Giannis is staying put.
Bucks Present Giannis With a Vision for 2025–26
In a separate report for ESPN, Windhorst and Tim Bontemps revealed that Bucks head coach Doc Rivers and GM Jon Horst have already laid out their pitch to Giannis — and it centers on continuity.
The plan: keep the current core intact, aim for a top-six playoff seed, and hope Damian Lillard returns from injury before the end of the season. Milwaukee finished the regular season 10–4 without Lillard, and Antetokounmpo’s increased workload during that stretch is part of the vision the team believes can hold things together in 2025–26.
The Bucks are calling it a “gap year,” one that gives the front office time to reshape the roster for another run by 2026–27 — and convince Giannis to give them that time.
Giannis Still Holding the Keys to Milwaukee’s Future
The Bucks’ plans depend heavily on retaining key free agents — particularly Brook Lopez, who’s drawn interest from the Lakers and Rockets, per Jake Fischer. They’re also waiting on Bobby Portis Jr. and Pat Connaughton, both of whom have player options.
If Lopez walks and other depth pieces depart, Milwaukee’s margin for error shrinks dramatically. Yet the front office remains optimistic that Antetokounmpo will buy into the vision — even if the Bucks are no longer viewed as title favorites.
Hints of that buy-in have surfaced. Speaking to the Brazilian outlet Coast to Coast, Antetokounmpo said:
“The Finals are different. I hope to be back soon with the Bucks.”
The quote was later translated and reported by Eurohoops, offering a glimpse into Giannis’ current mindset — one that leans more toward running it back than breaking it up.
That sentiment contrasts with Shams Charania’s report just weeks earlier, which indicated Antetokounmpo was open to exploring long-term fits outside of Milwaukee. For now, it seems he’s not ready to make that jump.
Giannis Isn’t Leaving — Yet
There’s no question Giannis is still operating at the peak of his powers. The nine-time All-Star averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists last season while shooting a blistering 60.1% from the field. At 30 years old, he remains one of the most dominant players in the league.
But dominance isn’t always enough. The Bucks have suffered three straight first-round exits, and unless their “gap year” gamble pays off, the pressure will return fast.
Right now, rival teams are backing off. But that won’t last forever. And the Bucks know the clock is still ticking.
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